Device for cleaning type matrices



Nov. 19, 1940. G. c. COLEMAN ETAL DEVICE FOR CLEANING TYPE MATRICES Filed Feb. 27,1939 zsheets-sh et 1 mum N m mam PM m Z i a N wm' ATTORNEY.

Nov; 19, 1940.

G. C. COLEMAN ETAL DEVICE FOR CLEANING TYPE MATRICES Filed Feb. 2'7, 1959 WWWwwmvwmy I 2 heets Sheot 2 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Guy (7; Coleman and Hulgfh Foster, Los Angeles, Ca

Application February 27, 1939, Serial No. 258,754

2 Claims.

[Our invention relates to a device for cleaning type matrices and has particular reference to a device for removingdirt and other foreign substances from type matrices of the type employed in line casting type machines.

JContin ued use of the matrices in standard line casting typeimachines results in gradual accumulationsjof tarnish, dirt and other foreign particles thereon. As these accumulations build up, in time they tend to cause faulty operation of the machine in which they are used since these accumulations tend to impair the free running of the matrices through the various guide channels employed on the machine and also tend to mar the "face of the type which is cast in the matrix.

It has long been common practice to periodically clean matrices of this type in order to insure proper operation of the machine in which they are employed and to insure clean-cut type castings therefrom. Prior to the present invention, these matrices were cleaned by removing them from the magazines and placing them in a tray where they were subjected to the action of a liquid cleaner and the action of manually :25 operated brushes. Such cleaning methods have not been entirely satisfactory because of the great amount of work required in removing the matrices from the line casting machine magazine and replacing them therein.

Attemptstoreduce the cost of cleaning matrices in this fashion has resulted in the development of a machine adapted to receive a standard line casting machine magazine, together with its cargo of matrices and subject both the magazine and. the matrices contained therein to the cleaning action of a suitable cleaning solvent. While this method has the advantage of reducin'gllthetiine required to clean the matrices, the corrosive .action of the cleaning solution on the metal parts of the magazine, particularly the ferrous parts, results inirreparable damage to the magazine. This is particularly true as regards the fastening and aligning devices which hold the various magazine parts together, it being found that after a few cleaning operations have been performed in this fashion, the dismantling of the magazine in order to repair damaged orbroken parts thereof is rendered totally impossible due to the extensive corrosion action on the iron and steel securing devices. It is; therefore anobject of our invention to providea-cleaning device for holding a plurality of? groups of type matrices in grouped relations'hip while a cleaning solution is applied thereto.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a device for cleaning type matrices which employs a washing magazine into which matrices may be transferred from a standard machine magazine, together with means for bringing the matrices contained by the washing magazine into intimate contact with a suitable cleaning solution.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph with means for filling the washing magazine with a suitable cleaning solution and means for agitating the matrices and the solution in contact with each other.

It is a further object of our invention to include in a device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs a means for readily adding or removing cleaning fluid from the washing magazine. g a

It is a further object of our invention to provide a device of thecharacter set forth in the preceding paragraph which includes means for rapidly drying the matrices in the washing magazine after the cleaning fluid has been withdrawn.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a liquid-tight washing magazine for use in a device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs which includes a plurality of scouring devices adapted to scour the sides of the matrices carried by the washing magazine.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from a study of the following specifications, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of one form of type matrix washing device constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken section taken substantially along lines III--III of Figs. 1 and 4 illustrating the manner in which a washing magazine is secured in an oscillatable carrier employed in the form of our invention illustrated herein;

Fig. 4 is a plan viewof the oscillatable carrier illustrating the relationship of the parts and the manner in which the securing devices cooperate therewith;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line V--V of Fig. 1 and illustrating the details of construction of a matrix drier; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the details of construction of the washing magazine employed in the preferred embodiment of our invention.

Referring to the drawings, we have illustrated in Fig. 3 one form of a washing magazine I which may be employed to hold line casting type machine matrices 2 while subjecting them to the action of a suitable cleaning solvent for the purpose of removing accumulations of tarnish, dirt and other foreign substances.

The washing magazine I may be constructed somewhat along the lines of a transfer magazine of the type described in our copending applical5 tion, Serial No. 151,084, filed June 30, 1937, which has matured into Patent No. 2,154,728, dated April 18, 1939, and may include upper and lower supporting plates 3 and 4 which may be held in spaced relationship relative to each other by means of longitudinally extending side members 5. Each of the plates 3 and 4 are provided with a plurality of aligned grooves 6 and I adapted to operate as guide channels for the plurality of matrices 2, each of the guide channels thus formed being employed to hold all of the matrices for any one character used in standard line casting type machines.

The matrices may be transferred from the standard machine magazine to the washing magazine by means of a transfer table which employs a transfer mechanism of the type described in our copending application, Serial No. 151,084, filed June 30, 1937. These aforementioned devices employ means for securing a transfer magazine or the washing magazine I in aligned relationship relative to a standard type machine magazine and interpose therebetween a transfer mechanism which constitutes aligning and guiding means for guiding the matrices as they run by gravity from 40 the standard type machine magazine into the corresponding matrix receiving channels in the washing magazine I whenever the tiltable table, upon which these two magazines are secured, is tilted in the direction torun the matrices from 4.5 the standard machine magazine into the washing magazine. In a similar manner, the same devices may be employed for transferring the washed matrices from the washing magazine back into the standard machine magazine after the 50 washing operation is completed by tilting the tiltable transfer table in the opposite direction.

We prefer to leave the top and bottom ends of the washing magazine I open and prevent the escape of the matrices out of the bottom by in- 55 corporating therewith an angle member 8 secured to one of the magazine plates 3-4 in a position overhanging the open bottom end of the washing magazine so as to engage the bottom end of the lowermost matrix in each of the matrix receiving 90 channels. The upper end of the magazine is preferably left open so that the matrices may be inserted or removed from the magazine. I as desired.

In order to'provide a support for the washing magazine I during the actual washing operation, we provide a stand 9 upon which is pivotally supported a magazine receiving tray III. The tray II) is preferably rectangular in shape and of a size sufficient to loosely receive the washing 70 magazine I and accordingly includes a bottom II with four upwardly extending sides I2. The sides I2 may be reinforced by providing a reinforcing frame member I3 encircling the tray ID at the upper edges of the sides I2. The bottom II also 75 may be reinforced by passing strap members I 4 from side to side and under the bottom II, each of the strap members I4 being secured to the top frame I3 in any suitable manner such as by welding.

The washing magazine I may be centrally positioned in'the tray I!) by providing a pair of supporting rails I5 and I6 which are preferably secured to the bottom of the tray I0 and cooperate with lower spring clip members I! and I8 to support the washing magazine I in spaced relation relative to the bottom of the tray and in a centralized position relative to opposite sides of the tray. The spring clips I! and I8 operate as tapered guiding members so that when the washing magazine I is placed in the tray II] and moved to'the left, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, the spring members II and I8 will engage the sides of the magazine and cause it to assume a centralized position within the tray.

Leftward movement of the magazine I may be arrested by providing .a permanently fixed closure member I9 which may be secured to the left side of the tray III and provided with a bearing surface ZII comprising a suitable gasket material, such as sheet rubber, secured to the exposed face of the closure member I9. When the magazine I is moved to the left into abutting relation with the closure member IS, the gasket member operates to close and seal in a liquid-tight fashion the open bottom end of the magazine I.

The washing magazine I may be urged into closely abutting relation with the closure member I9 by providing at the opposite side of the tray III a movable closure member 2| which is also provided on its inner face with a sheet of gasket material 22. The gasket material may be secured to each of the closure members in any suit-able fashion, angle clips 23 being illustrated in connection with the closure member 2| while the gasket member 26 for the closure member I9 is illustrated as being secured thereto by means of machine screws 24.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the closure member 2I may be slidably supported for longitudinal clamping movement by providing a pair of stud members 25 secured by any suitable means to the right-hand edge of the tray I0 and passed through suitable guiding holes provided in opposite ends of the closure member 2|. Inward movement of the closure member 2I relative to the tray I0 may be arrested by providing stop means or pins 26 at the extreme inner ends of each of the studs 25.

We prefer to render the washing magazine liquid-tight by clamping it securely between the closure members I9 and ZI and accordingly provide a plurality of clamp screws 21 threadedly engaged with the upper ends of each of the U shaped reinforcing straps I4 and disposed in a position to bear against the outer face of the movable closure member 2 I, so that manual rotation of the clamping screws 21 will urge the closure member 2| inwardly toward the fixed closure member I9.

It will be readily apparent that when a washing magazine I is placed in the tray I0 and held in the proper centralized position by means of the supporting rails I5 and I6 and centralizing clips I! and I8, inward movement of the closure member 2|, effected by rotation of the clamping screws 21, will securely clamp the washing magazine I between the closure members I9 and 2I, the gasket material 20 and 22 associated with these members operating to effectively seal the upper and lower open ends of the magazine I against the escape of a cleaning solution which may be placed within the magazine.

The cleaning solution may be introduced into the interior of the magazine I after it has been ,5 clamped in the tray II) by providing an L-shaped,

tubular inlet connection 28 which is passed laterally through the body portion of the closure member 2| in a position to communicate with the open space between the magazine plates 3 and l. In a similar manner, fluid may be withdrawn from the magazine I by providing a tubular connection 29 passed laterally through the body portion of the fixed closure member I 9 in a position to communicate with the space between the magazine plates 3 and 4. The tubular fittings 23 and 29 may be provided, as desired, with plugs or valves, or other control fittings.

In operation, the matrices to be washed are transferred in the manner described from the standard machine magazine into the washing magazine and the washing magazine is then placed in the tray I 9 and clamped therein by means of the clamping screws 21. Asuitable cleaning solution is then introduced through the fluid connection 28 and the connections 28 and 29 are then sealed by any suitable means.

The cleaning action of the cleaning solution relative to the matrices in the magazine I may be accelerated by agitating the matrices and the solution relative to each other. In order to secure this agitation we prefer to support the tray I ii for pivotal movement upon the supporting structure 9.

The supporting structure 9 for the tray I may include a pair of A shaped end members 33 spaced apart by a system of lateral and diagonal braces 3| and 32 a distance substantially equal to the width of the tray Ill. The tray I0 may be pivotally secured to the support 9 by welding a 40 transversely extending tube 33 to each of the reinforcing bars I4 substantially midway of the tray II] and passing therethrough an axle member 34 which is received in suitable openings in the upper ends of each of the A frames 30. Lon- 45 gitudinal movement of the axle member 34 may be prevented by means of pins or keys 35 passed through each end thereof.

In order that the tray III will be stably supported while the magazine I is being placed 50 therein or removed therefrom, we prefer to place the tube 33 in a slightly offset position relative to the center of gravity of the tray I0, so that, as viewed in Fig. 2, the left-hand side of the tray Ill will tend to overbalance the right-hand side 55 of the tray and move downwardly under the infiuence of gravity.

Downward movement of the left side of the tray Ill may be arrested in a position which places the magazine I in the most accessible po- 60 sition by placing a removable supporting member 33 thereunder. The supporting member 36 is accordingly made in an inverted U shape, the downwardly extending legs of which are each attached by a suitable pivotal securing means 37 to one of the legs of each of the A frames 30. Outwardmovement of the supporting member 36 may be arrested in a position disposed immediately below the left-hand edge of the tray II] by means of a cord or chain 38 secured to the upper portion of the inverted U shaped member 36 and extending to one of the transverse braces 3|.

It will be readily observed that with the auxiliary supporting member 36 in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 that the tray ID is inclined at an 75 angle calculated to render the washing magazine 1 in its most accessible position, whereas pivotally moving the auxiliary supporting member 36 into a position placing the downwardly extending arm portions thereof in substantial alignment with the legs of the A frame 39 to which they are attached, will allow further pivotal movement of the tray Ill. This pivotal movement may be arrested by a permanently fixed stop member 39 secured to each of the legs of the A frames. I5 and extending therebetween.

The temporary support 36 may accordingly be retracted and placed in a position substantially congruent with the legs of the A frames 39 and thetray It! may then be oscillated about its pivotal support 3d so as to cause the matrices and the solution contained within the washing magazine I to surge from end to end relative to the magazine- We prefer to make the magazine I of such size that when all of the matrices from the standard machine magazine are inserted therein, there will be considerable storage space remaining in each of the matrix receiving channels so that as the tray I3 and the magazine I carried thereby is oscillated between positions disposed on opposite sides of a horizontal position, the matrices may run by gravity from one end to the other of the washing magazine.

It has been found that the agitation of the fluid caused in this fashion permits the effective cleaning of all of the matrices in an extremely short time.

While we have shown the tray I9 as being merely mounted for pivotal movement, it is to be understood that this pivotal movement may be imparted to the tray I 9 either by manual means or by any suitable power operated means.

It has been found, however, that while this manner of washing the matrices provides an excellent cleaning action as regards the type forming faces and the indexing notches in the 0pposite end of the matrix as well as the guiding edge portions which engage the guide channels in the standard machine magazine, the side faces of the matrices are not so effectively cleaned.

We accordingly prefer to provide the washing magazine I with a multiplicity of scrubbing elements all which, as illustrated in Fig. 6, may comprise a plurality of short brushes extending between the washing magazine plates 3 and 4 and disposed in positions between adjacent matrix guiding channels 5 and I so that as the matrices 2 are caused to move along the channels as the magazine I is oscillated about a horizontal position, the brushes Ml will engage the sides of the matrices 2 and effectively remove any tarnish, dirt or foreign particles which have been loosened by the action of the cleaning solution.

After the matrices have been treated in this fashion for a sunicient length of time (it has been found that a few minutes Washing adequately removes all of the tarnish and dirt accumulations), the washing fluid may be removed by placing the tray Ill in a steeply inclined position and opening the fluid connections 23 and 29 to allow the fluid to be discharged through the lower connection 29.

After the washing fluid has been removed, We prefer to rinse the matrices and this may be accomplished by performing the previously described operations with clear water in the magazine I instead of the cleaning fluid. The rinse water may also be withdrawn from the magazine in the fashion described.

After the matrices have been thoroughly rinsed transversely extending brace member 3|.

to remove all traces of the cleaning solution, the matrices must be thoroughly dried before they may be again reinserted in the standard machine magazine. We have accordingly incorporated in the washing device of our invention a means for rapidly and effectively drying the matrices while they are retained in the washing magazine. For this purpose we provide a heating unit 4| which may comprise a pair of angle members 42 and 43 extending between the opposite A frames 30 and supported thereon by means of transverse braces 44. The channels 42 and 43 are so disposed as to substantially form a channel member extending between the A frames 35 and providing a slot 45 of substantially the same width as the spacing between the upper and lower magazine plates 3 and 4.

A heat deflector 45 may be disposed below the slot 45 and employed to support, by means of strap members 41, a tubular burner 48. The burner 48 preferably comprises a length of pipe extending between the A frames 30 provided with a plurality of upwardly facing orifices 49 and with an inlet connection 50 adapted to be connected to a source of illuminating gas or other suitable combustible fluid. The heat from the combustion of the gas in the burner 48 may be conducted upwardly to the slot 45 by providing a sheet metal skirt or enclosure 5| which is secured to the underside of the angle members 42 and 43.

The washing magazine I may be removed from the tray 10 and placed in a substantially upright position over the slot 45 and supported in such position by means of supporting rails 52 and 53 secured to the angle member 42 and sloping upwardly and inwardly toward the apex of the A frames 30 where they may be secured to the Gentralizing spring clips 54 and 55 may be employed to positively position the magazine l in a centralized position longitudinally of the burner 48. In a similar fashion a quarter round spring member 56 may be employed to cooperate with the angle member 43 to urge the magazine I against the supporting rails 52 and 53 so as to place the opening between the upper and lower magazine plates 3 and 4 directly above the slot 45. It will be observed that the heat deflected by the combustion of gas at the burner 48 will cause a current of hot air and products of combustion to pass upwardly through the length of the magazine I so as to effectively dry the inside of the magazine and all of the matrices contained therein.

As soon as the matrices have been dried they may be replaced in the standard machine magazine by the employment of a suitable transfer mechanism.

It will be observed that by employing the washing device of our invention and utilizing a magazine which is intended to be filled with cleaning solution during the washing operation, the dis advantages of the former methods of washing type matrices are obviated. The washing magazine I is accordingly preferably constructed of brass or similar metal which will not be corrosively attacked by the cleaning solution or by the rinse water, and the various parts of the magazine are preferably secured to each other by soldering or brazing so as to provide a liquidtight structure.

By employing the washing device of our inven tion type matrices may be effectively and readily washed without employing time consuming hand methods and also without subjecting the standard machine magazine to the corrosive action of the various cleaning solutions employed.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to any of the details of construction shown or described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device for cleaning matrices for a plurality of type characters, the combination of: a magazine of liquid-tight construction having a matrix receiving channel for each of said characters for receiving said matrices, each of said channels being open at both ends; a closure member for closing liquid-tight one end of all of said matrix channels; a solution inlet connection through said closure member for conducting cleaning solution to the interior of said magazine;

another closure member for closing liquid-tight the other end of all of said matrix channels; a solution outlet connection through said other closure member for conducting cleaning solution away from the interior of said magazine; and means mounting said magazine for oscillatory movement to agitate said matrices when enclosed in said magazine with a quantity of cleaning solution.

2. In a device for cleaning matrices for a plurality of type characters, the combination of 

